New Brighton Fire Chief Jeff Bolland said the first call about the flames on Penn Avenue came in just after 8 a.m.

"Heavy smoke and fire coming from the first and second floor of the back of this building, and smoke coming from the whole entire house," said Bolland.

Officials believe the fire started in the back portion of one house but soon began pouring out of windows, setting fire to the house next door.

The owner of that second house, Debbie Evans-Kannell, hasn't been living there for the past few months, but does keep many family pictures and other mementos in it. She found out about the fire when her daughter her called her.

"She said 'Mom, I just went on Facebook and there's a picture of your house on fire, and the one next to it,' and I said, 'What?'" Evans-Kannell said.

Firefighters were able to get the flames under control, but it was difficult: one firefighter needed medical treatment for dehydration.

"It was very hot and muggy this morning," Bolland said. "From the amount of fire inside this structure, it was very hot."

The owners of the house that first caught fire were not home either, but their four cats appear to have been lost in the fire.

The firefighter who became dehydrated is expected to be fine, and the fire marshal is investigating how the flames started.